At the bank
À la banque
- Open a bank account.
- Make online purchases and be familiar with common payment methods.
- Get to know the biggest banks of the country.
At the bank: Learn essential French vocabulary for banking activities such as ouvrir un compte (open an account), compte courant (checking account), and justificatif de domicile (proof of address), plus useful verbs like déposer and contrôler to navigate real bank interactions with confidence.
Vocabulary (18) Share Copied!
Exercises Share Copied!
These exercises can be done together during conversation lessons or as homework.
Exercice 1: Conversation exercise
Instruction:
- Discuss the different payment methods that you see. (Discuss the different payment methods that you see.)
- Do you prefer shopping online or in a store? Do you like talking on the phone? (Do you prefer shopping online or in a store? Do you like talking on the phone?)
- Is it common in your country to leave a tip? (Is it common in your country to leave a tip? )
Teaching guidelines +/- 10 minutes
Example phrases:
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Je préfère payer par carte car c'est plus rapide. I prefer paying by card because it is faster. |
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J'aime avoir du liquide car parfois on ne peut pas payer par carte. I like to have cash because sometimes you can not pay by card. |
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Je préfère faire des achats en ligne car c'est moins stressant pour moi. I like online shopping more because it is less stressful for me. |
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Je préfère payer avec mon application bancaire. I prefer paying with my bank application. |
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Nous payons par virement bancaire. We pay by bank transfer. |
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Presque personne ne laisse de pourboire dans mon pays, donc je ne le fais jamais. Almost nobody leaves a tip in my country so I never do it. |
| ... |
Exercise 2: Dialogue Cards
Instruction: Select a situation and practice the conversation with your teacher or fellow students.
Exercise 3: Multiple Choice
Instruction: Choose the correct solution
1. Quand j'___ de l'argent au distributeur automatique, je vérifie toujours mon solde.
(When I ___ money from the ATM, I always check my balance.)2. La semaine dernière, le conseiller bancaire ___ mon compte courant pour vérifier les opérations.
(Last week, the bank advisor ___ my current account to verify the transactions.)3. Avant, je me ___ souvent à la banque pour déposer des chèques, mais maintenant je le fais en ligne.
(Before, I used to ___ often to the bank to deposit checks, but now I do it online.)4. Hier, j'___ un virement pour rembourser un prêt auprès de ma banque.
(Yesterday, I ___ a transfer to repay a loan to my bank.)Exercise 4: At the bank: an important day
Instruction:
Verb Tables
Déplacer - To go
Imparfait
- je me déplaçais
- tu te déplaçais
- il/elle/on se déplaçait
- nous nous déplacions
- vous vous déplaciez
- ils/elles se déplaçaient
Contrôler - To check
Passé composé
- j'ai contrôlé
- tu as contrôlé
- il/elle/on a contrôlé
- nous avons contrôlé
- vous avez contrôlé
- ils/elles ont contrôlé
Déposer - To deposit
Passé composé
- j'ai déposé
- tu as déposé
- il/elle/on a déposé
- nous avons déposé
- vous avez déposé
- ils/elles ont déposé
Grammar Share Copied!
It's not the most exciting thing, we admit, but it’s absolutely essential (and we promise it'll pay off)!
Verb conjugation tables for this lesson Share Copied!
Déplacer to move Share Copied!
Imparfait
| French | English |
|---|---|
| (je/j') déplaçais | I was moving |
| (tu) déplaçais | you were moving |
| (il/elle/on) déplaçait | he/she/one was moving |
| (nous) déplacions | we were moving |
| (vous) déplaciez | you were moving |
| (ils/elles) déplaçaient | they moved |
Contrôler to control Share Copied!
Passé composé
| French | English |
|---|---|
| (je/j') ai contrôlé | I controlled |
| (tu) as contrôlé | You controlled |
| (il/elle/on) a contrôlé | he/she/one controlled |
| (nous) avons contrôlé | we have controlled |
| (vous) avez contrôlé | You controlled |
| (ils/elles) ont contrôlé | they controlled |
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Lesson Overview: At the Bank
This lesson focuses on practical conversations and vocabulary related to banking situations in French. It is designed for A2 level learners who want to confidently open bank accounts, make online purchases, and understand French banking institutions.
Key Topics Covered
- Opening a bank account: Phrases and dialogues to discuss account types, required documents like pièce d'identité (ID) and justificatif de domicile (proof of address).
- Making online purchases: How to inquire about payment methods (par carte bancaire, PayPal) and confirm secure transactions.
- Discussing major French banks: Names like BNP Paribas, Société Générale, Crédit Agricole, and how to talk about bank services and locations.
Useful Vocabulary and Expressions
- Compte courant: current account used for everyday payments.
- Distributeur automatique: ATM or cash machine.
- Retirer de l'argent: to withdraw money.
- Faire un virement: to make a bank transfer.
- Conseiller bancaire: bank advisor.
- Pièce d'identité and justificatif de domicile: essential documents for banking procedures.
Grammar Highlights
The lesson includes key verb conjugations in the passé composé and imparfait, essential for describing past actions related to banking interactions. Examples include verbs like retirer, contrôler, déplacer, and déposer.
Practical Mini Story
A short narrative shows how to use the verbs and vocabulary in context during a typical day at the bank, enhancing comprehension through storytelling.
Instruction Language vs. French: Useful Notes
Unlike English, French banking terms often use specific phrases that may not have a direct English equivalent. For example, compte courant translates to “current account,” which is similar to a checking account used daily. The phrase justificatif de domicile literally means "proof of residence" and is crucial in French administrative processes. Also, French verb tenses like passé composé express completed past actions and differ from the simple past commonly used in English. Learning these nuances can help you navigate banking conversations more naturally.
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